19 October 2007

Landrieu: A Road Block on the Internet SuperhighwaySenator objects to permanent ban on Internet taxation

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the November 1st expiration date of the Internet Tax Freedom Act quickly approaching, the Senate was poised to vote on a permanent extension of the ban on Internet taxation Thursday night. However, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) voiced objection to S. 2128, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, effectively halting the vote. The Senate consideration of S. 2128 follows the Tuesday passage in the House of a temporary extension of the current moratorium.

While the senator stated that her objection was on behalf of Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), she helped to thwart a similar bill in 2003.

"Yesterday Senator Landrieu took a stand against taxpayers, innovation and economic growth by blocking a vote on the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act," said taxpayer advocate Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "With broad support for permanently banning Internet taxes, Landrieu's efforts to stand in the way of S. 2128 are surprising -- especially after her constituents relied heavily on Internet communication following Hurricane Katrina."

Yesterday evening, Republican Leader McConnell tried to get unanimous consent for the Senate to vote on the permanent ban:

Mr. President, in just 13 days the Internet tax moratorium will expire. If Congress has not acted by then, State and local governments will be free to impose new taxes on Internet access--and trust me, they will....

The Internet has been at the heart of America's economic growth over the past decade--all because Government has not gotten in the way. But those days are over if the people on the other side of the aisle in the Senate open the Internet to new taxes.

We cannot let that happen. For the sake of our economy, for the sake of our competitiveness, for the sake of consumers who don't want to see new taxes on their bills, we need to ban taxes on Internet access permanently.

Regrettably, Senator Landrieu (D-LA) objected to the request, blocking a vote on the Sununu legislation for the foreseeable future.

Currently, usage of the Internet is tax free. Last night, Republicans offered S. 2128, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, on the floor of the U.S. Senate. The bill would permanently extend the current ban on taxing the Internet.Mary Objects: After Republicans asked the Senate to consider the bill, Mary Landrieu stepped up to voice objection.

Landrieu told the Senate she objected on behalf of Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware.As a result of her objection, the Senate was not able to vote on the bill.

Sadly, Landrieu is no stranger to this issue. In 2003, Landrieu joined a handful of other Senators to derail efforts to pass a permanent ban – just another Landrieu attempt to increase taxes.“Mary Landrieu would apparently rather you be taxed each time you log on to the Internet to pay a bill, get directions or send an e-mail.

I guess she figures she has voted for higher taxes on almost everything else, why not the Internet,” NRSC Communications Director Rebecca Fisher said. “What is Mary Landrieu’s objection with permanently extending the Internet tax ban?”